Following an incredible playoff run last season, Cincinnati Bengal’s quarterback Joe Burrow received a massive influx of fans and well-wishers.

Last season was his first full NFL season, and he did not disappoint. The Bengals went 10-7 in the regular season, winning the AFC North and earning a spot in the Wildcard game. The Bengals magic continued as Burrow led Cincinnati to three straight playoff victories, earning a spot in Super Bowl LVI.

Burrow earned himself some new nicknames along the way, such as “Joe Sheisty,” “Joe Cool,” and “Joe Brrr.” After a video went viral on TikTok of an older man telling a teenage boy, “You’re not that guy pal, trust me you’re not that guy,” people began referring to people they think are cool as “That Guy.” Throughout his playoff run, Burrow began receiving this nickname from fans online.

After the most underwhelming performances in the first two games of this season, is Joe Burrow really “That Guy?”

Ever since Burrow rose to fame during an incredible senior season at LSU, where he won the Heisman Trophy and the College Football Playoff National Championship, he’s been seen as a cool guy. He has a swagger about him that is unique to him. He knows he’s cool, but he’s still humble and focuses on his work.

The past two weeks against the Steelers and the Cowboys, respectively, Burrow hasn’t looked like himself. He hasn’t shown up until the second half starts, in an attempt to have a heroic comeback victory, only to run out of time to be the hero. These were both very winnable games for the Bengals, as the Pittsburgh Steelers don’t have a solid quarterback and Dak Prescott was out with an injury when they played the Dallas Cowboys.

If Burrow is as good as everyone says he is, why has he only shown up for the second half of each game this season?

His offensive line is definitely inhibiting his ability to make plays as he’s already been sacked 13 times this season, which puts him on track to get sacked over 100 times by the end of the season, barring him not getting injured from all the hits first. However, it’s also his responsibility as a quarterback to get himself out of situations where he could get sacked. There have been plays where he has clearly held the ball for longer than he should have, and it has come to hurt him and the rest of the team. 

Now, everyone is calling Burrow overrated, which I think is unfair given he’s only played two games this season. There are still plenty of games left to be played, but they have to find a way to win against their tougher opponents if they want to make up for these losses against less-than-great opponents.

The Bengals have some of the best young talent on offense in the league right now, and if they don’t figure out how to make plays, it’s going to be too late and their season is going to be over quicker than it began. Burrow needs to come out firing on all cylinders against the Jets this weekend if he wants to silence the critics.

So, is Joe Burrow really “That Guy?” He’s well on his way, but if he can find the quarterback he was in the 2021 playoffs, he can cement himself into that nickname for years to come.